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not quite five...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 94 / 112
Date: June 01, 2001
Author: Amazon User

i love this game but, with that said, i want to get the bad stuff out of the way...

LESS CARS-many less...a lot of my favorites have gone the way of the dodo. 126 cars to start with, with a few more added later, is a lot, but when compared to four to five times that in gt2, it pales in comparison...

DUMB A.I.-sure the computer cars are a little more "intelligent" than before, but when a random car that had never been touched slams its brakes, effectively taking it out of the race, just to stop the player, then their is work to be done... besides this, all cars still follow a racing line, albeit not as religiously as before. a.i. could be better...

NO DAMAGE-understandably, the manufacturers will not allow the gt producers to portray their perfect cars as anything less than that(i.e. no scratches or dents in these work machines), but slamming a wall at 200km/h plus,(i have japanese version) will have repurcussions. i will gripe and gripe until this is corrected!

NO WORKING HEADLIGHTS-i will give my right eye for a left one that can see the road! why turn on the headlights at all? the street lights obviously do an adequate job! the headlights look pretty, but do nothing! yes this is a minor gripe, but simple physics is not too much to ask for! argh...

ok...with that out of the way, time for the good...

GRAPHICS-obviously being the first thing one will notice, the graphics are phenomonal! sure, the audience remains a cardboard cut-out and the rear- view mirror does not present all the fixins(very generic), but with these being the only flaws, this game is truly a sight to behold. the lighting is extremely impressive(i was actually blinded by the sun) and the textures are right on. i have read of texture lighting problems, but have yet to experience any. all the touches are in the right places. and the replays...beautiful!

MUSIC-again, sony got different bands for the soundtrack...like lenny kravitz, feeder, grand theft audio, overseer...it really keeps you motivated. although i do like the music in gt2 a bit better(one of the best video game soundtracks ever), this music was still right on!

MORE RACES-even more races including the gt2 rally races and some f-1 racing this time, the race options are amazing!

IMPROVED PHYSICS-not a very noticeable change, as gt2 had great physics, but a significant one at that. rear and mid engine cars do not flair as wildly out of control as in the past, and the new wet ground physics are great. the pinball action off the side rails remains, however...

running out of space, i realize there is a lot to say about this game, and it is an extremely enjoyable experience. granted, the time to make each car model limited the selection this time around, but there are still more cars than any other ps2 racer. try it out and see...especially if you have never played a gran turismo game...you are sure to enjoy!

Grand Turismo 3 Review (JAP version)

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 16 / 21
Date: May 18, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This review is being written only one day after purchasing a JAP PS2 plus a copy of the game. I took the machine out of the box, inserted the CD, turned it on and just watched.....and I watched, and I watched. WOW!! - at last a video game that lives up to my expectations. An intro that will leave your jaw on the floor. Until you realise that the intro is actually in game footage. Okay, so I have only played the game for around 5 hours but it is absolutely superb. I'm not going to say anything more as I am off home to play it some more (before I pop to the pub anyway). Buy it as soon as it hits the shelves & enjoy !!

Worth buying a PS2 for this game alone

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 12
Date: April 24, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I literally have not bought another PS2 game since I've had GT3 for over 4 months. I've taken it out of the player maybe once or twice. It is the most realistic driving simulator I've ever tried.

Good points:
* Good selection of cars (and colors). Everything from econoboxes to muscle cars to sports cars to F1 and prototypes.
* Good selection of tracks, including city, race track and rally. Plus several real-world (the challenging Laguna Seca and Monaco tracks)
* Cars are customizable: add parts, fine-tune settings.
* Good custom wheel selection
* Realistic driving physics. Oversteer/understeer, wheelspin, weight shift, suspension mods, etc. behave as you'd expect.
* Great graphics
* Challenging
* 2-player battle and iLink (you can hook up several PS2's and compete)

Not-as-good points:
* AI cars hit you, each other and the walls, and can be annoying.
* Car selection emphasizes Japanese cars (not that they're bad, but I'd like to see more European)
* No damage model or rollover, so bouncing off walls has no effect
* Rally races aren't set up like real rallies (they're all head to head as opposed to beating a time)
* Only appearance change is wheel. I'd like to see custom graphics, paintjobs, bodywork, etc.

If you're looking for an arcade action game, this is not it. You'll likely be frustrated by the license tests which need lots of practice to get through. And most of the races require some level of license. But if you're looking for a challenge and to improve, the license tests will make you work for your skills, and enable you to beat some tough AI competition.

But even with a few problems, I give it 5 stars. I could probably get by without buying another game until GT4 comes out. Seriously, it's cheap. Buy it.

Disappointing, but still the best

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 23 / 36
Date: July 17, 2001
Author: Amazon User

GT3 is essentially the same game as GT2, with the following enhancements: MUCH better graphics, a slightly tweaked driving engine, more realistic car sounds, no slowdown when all six cars are on the screen at the same time, a better rally mode, a few extra tracks. Considering that GT2 was still one of the best racing games on any console without the enhancements that GT3 brings to the table, GT3 is a can't miss title.

Though GT3 is still the best console racer on any platform, it's flaws are much more pronounced this time.

The game features ~160 cars this time, way down from GT2, which had over 500. That, in and of itself isn't the end of the world until you consider what's missing.

First, there is still no Ferrari, Porsche (two of the most storied racing car manufacturers in history). That these two companies could be omitted again in a game that supposedly gives an overview of sports car racing is, well, sad, and honestly calls into question the credibility of the people who put together the car list. I realize there are licensing issues to be dealt with, but OTHER, lesser driving games feature these two marks. Sony once again took the easy way out and loaded up on high end Japanese, way-exotic-exotics, and American Muscle.

Things get worse from there. One of GT2's strengths was that it featured such a wide variety of cars in wildly different classes from different eras. Though, at 500 cars, the list was STILL lacking for a true car nut, the options available are still unprecedented. Among the more interesting cars were the mid-engine Lotus Europa, Renault Clio Sport (V6, mid-engine turbo stuffed in an econobox), Suzuki Capcino (a mini-Miata?), Honda CRX, Lancia Stratos (repeat world rally championship winner from the 70s), the Plymouth Superbird (one of the most over-the-top entries ever in NASCAR), and even the Vector M12 supercar. The variety in the types of cars and the types of courses offered nearly unlimited options: test European finesse against American Muscle at Laguna Seca, try a twitchy car like the Stratos on a bumpy course like Trial Mountain, race the Mini Cooper rally car against the budget entries from Japan, or go for the obvious and set a Viper against the best from Japan (Supra GT or Skyline), and on and on and on.

You'll get none of that with GT3. Like the first and second entries, there is a heavy emphasis on Japanese cars at the expense of anything and everything else. GT2 seemed to make some headway in the right direction, but that has been lost in this installment in the series. Expect less variety in the cars, and in the racing events. Instead, look forward to NINE versions of the Lancer Evolution, EIGHT Imprezas, NINE Skylines, SIX Silvias, and FIVE Acura NSXs, ONE BMW, ZERO Ferraris, ZERO Porsches, ONE Lancia, and other than the GT40 and Shelby Cobra, ZERO cars made before 1985. Kiss variety and replay value goodbye.

The game's other failures involve the lack of enhancements made to a decent, but dated/dating GT2. First, GT3 failed to make any improvements to the computer's driving AI, and for that reason alone, the game will be fairly easy to conquer for people who have beaten GT2 already. The computer drivers were easily one of the weakest parts of GT2. That I couldn't notice any improvement whatsoever was a bit disappointing.

Next, there is still no damage modelling. Wrecks have no consequence whatsoever on your car, again encouraging the human drivers to "lean" on opponents through corners or to bounce off other cars when braking for a corner.

Finally, the game once again fails to license more "real" race courses. Riding around Trial Mountain is wonderful and exciting, but cruising Monza or Suzuka or Le Mans or Daytona be even better (especially in a Porsche Le Mans prototype, or a Testa Rossa, or an E type, but that point has already been made). The only representatives from the real world of racing are Laguna Seca and Monaco (in typical GT fashion, given an alternate name to save money on licensing).

My final thoughts, GT3 is still the best console racing game in the best series of console racers. People who have played the competition will understand immediately the attention to detail that goes into each of the GT releases. They are superior products in almost every way, from the physics engine, to the replay value, to the track design, and even simple things like the refined menu system. However, there's a long way to go until this series achieves perfection, and considering the teaser we got with GT2, I'm more disappointed than excited about GT3.

The king of all racers!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: July 09, 2001
Author: Amazon User

[...] WHY NO PORSCHE?

there is porsche! its called RUF! Porsche (the name) is licensed to other game companies and locked up! Ferrari is not available due to tighter licensing and no "RUF" for ferrari to get round this.

FEW AMERICAN CARS?

because the game was made in Japan, by Japanese the emphasis is on japanese makes .. plus, in the GT world, the range, depth and ability of japanese racing cars is much greater than American cars.. even so they've added many european makes, and a decent range of US cars as well.

FEWER CARS THAN GT2?

Many cars in GT2 are just existing cars with a stripe added.. all of the GT3 cars are modelled with a much greater degree of accuracy and most have authentic recorded engine sounds. Polyphony Digital took seven times longer to add a single GT3 car than a single GT2 car due to this extra attention to detail.

MANY OF THE SAME TRACKS?

Yes, but redone in graphics that bring them alive. Given a choice of totally new tracks or old favorites from GT2 done to this level, the compromise of many old tracks and about five new ones is pretty good.

Ok my original review:

I've had the Japanese edition for some time. Its basically identical to the July 11th release US edition.. The game is a triumph.. the designers said in an interview that they hope gamers will get six months of use out of GT3, and I'd agree with that.. you can get to 100% complete faster, or you can never get anywhere near 100% complete and just dip in randomly for fun - either way there are well over 100 hours worth of play in here, much of it not released to you until you're ready.. Graphically GT3 is the best looking (and feeling) racer on all platforms, and looks to be unchallenged for the forseeable future.. there simply isnt anything even in development that will come close... Its worth buying a PS2 purely to play it.. the force feedback wheel adds to the experience (if you can find something to clamp it to!) as it imparts extra sensations you don't get with the analog dual shock.. Any magazine reviewing on a 5 or 10 point scale gives this game a perfect mark.. if you hate accurate racing simulations, then why are you reading these reviews? but if you enjoy looking at and using cars and racing against another (split screen) or against computer cars, or against your own best laps (ghost image), then you need to buy GT3 because there will not be another racing game that matches it for some time.

Having got GT3 and a PS2 you can also look forward to amazing titles this year such as Devil May Cry, Metal Gear Solid 2, ICO, State of Emergency and many others.. after a drought of A grade titles since the PS2 release, there is a FLOOD coming your way...

Some special moments in GT3 racing for me: Racing at high speed in rally mode and not being able to see a thing due to the dust clouds from the car in front!

Finally getting all golds in two sets of racing license tests, after hours of practice and incremental improvements..

Controlling a high powered car on a wet track using gradual acceleration and braking..

Managing to lap at Monaco without hitting any walls..

Watching replays of innumerable close races.

Finally earning enough money to buy a top GT car..

It goes on and on really.. stop reading and get this game.. it won't change your life, but its brilliant value for money.

Best Racing Game Ever. Bar None

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 16
Date: July 06, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I've played the Japanese version of Gran Turismo 3, and I've never played a racing game that has ever been this good. GT3 easily raises the bar so high, that there is no way that any other company can produce a better racing game than this. (Aside for Gran Turismo 4, but that's another story)

The graphics really show off what the PlayStation 2 is capable of. In the Seattle circuit, you can actually see little heat waves coming off of the pavement. The sun looks so real in this game that I automatically started to squint my eyes while looking into it. The brake discs actually heat up when you brake for a long period of time!! Now that is realism people.

The gameplay is also really realistic. The handling between a Ford Mustang and a Honda S2000 is very different, just like in real life. If you tailgate a driver ahead of you, you can actually use the suction behind his car to sling shot past him. Just like in real life.

Needless to say, if you love cars, then by all means buy this game. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Seriously fantastic

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: August 30, 2001
Author: Amazon User

First, let me offer a critique for people who haven't yet played this game and are interested in it. While GT3 has a robust Arcade Mode component, this game is really aimed at people who are seriously interested in, and love, auto racing. You cannot accomplish much in GT3 by just mashing the accelerator and pointing the car. This fact will frustrate some to the degree that it addicts others. This is almost as real as it gets in a racing game; this is not a fantasy racing game where cars function in a Universe ruled not by the physics of Newton but by those of a Saturday morning cartoon.
The game's physics engine is astonishing. Every car feels different. Those who claim otherwise do not know what a car feels like. The downside to this, for some, is that you absolutely must know how to set up a car, depending on track, type of race, and your personal driving style. There is no "one" right set-up for any given car. You have to learn how you drive, and then set your car up accordingly. Again, for some, frustration, for the rest of us, heaven.
You must also pass licensing tests to compete at higher levels of the game. I have passed them all, with no cheating, and I assure you, you will need to skills polished by the tests to have fun at each new level.
The graphics are stunning. Clearly, Sony realized so much customer satisfaction would derive from being able to replay the results of your efforts and look so good.
Sadly, the game's AI sucks raw eggs, especially compared with the game I constantly compare GT3 with, F! Championship Season 2000. The one good thing about GT3's AI is that the other cars make mistakes, and do not drive like RoboCars all the time. The bad thing is, they seem oblivious to the presence of your own vehicle. These are, for the most part, fendered cars, so some bumping and shoving goes with the competition. I accept that, when fighting for position-but not when I'm lapping a guy repeatedly. The other guy can be five laps down, and he still fights you for the best line, even when you are already occupying it. The good news is that the AI sets the competition at appropriate levels throughout the game. The guys at the higher levels are going pretty quickly, and you have to have some talent to beat them.
There is no destruction from contact, let alone impact. Here, the F1 game is far more realistic; in F1 Champ Season, your car falls apart if you sneeze on it. I understand the manufacturers that licensed Sony to use their vehicles stipulated they wanted no crash realism, lest their cars look bad. I can live with that.
I'll end this segment by saying I am completely addicted to this game. Selecting your cars, tuning them, then setting them up before the race is, in my opinion, 80 percent of the battle for victory. This is a game that rewards doing your homework. How you feel about that statement will probably determine whether or not you love this game.
Now, for people who are playing the game:
I've got both the Super and Rally licenses, so I feel I can say this: Some of the tests are needlessly sadistic, especially when you flunk for knocking over a rubber cone or brushing a railing. This happens in real racing all the time. Having said that, they are all passable. Some of them took me over 100 tries; and who in his right mind turns off traction control on a racing car, like they do in the tests? If you persist, and understand that each test is trying to teach you something, you will learn what the lesson is and pass the test.
The tire wear simulation when you hit the IB license level throws you for a loop at first. There is a whole lot the game's documentation neglects to tell you. When your tires get worn, pull into the pits, and the game will automatically reset your tires to "new," which also means "cold." You will have to learn (1) how to drive to conserve your tires, (2) how to drive on cold tires, and (3) how to keep going fast on worn tires. The best strategy is to start on very hard tires. For a car of any kind of power, and a race more than 3 laps, you are really only going to use racing tire levels 2, 3 and 4, and 4 only rarely. Ideally, choose a hardness that will let you run the whole race without pitting, but without the tires going completely off. If some cars seem considerably faster than you at the start, and your hardware is on a par with them, they are almost certainly on softer tires, and will fall back into your clutches.

Therefore, if you are going to plan to pit, take advantage of qualifying to find out, you know, WHERE THE PIT ENTRANCE IS! You don't want to have to be hunting for the pits when you need to stop.
I have also found that cranking in all the downforce a car has helps with the tire and handling situations. Find the downforce settings on your Car Settings menu. Most street stock cars don't have this option, but all the racing cars do.

This game will keep you busy!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: March 24, 2003
Author: Amazon User

First off, I try hard to beat every game I get. Unfortunately, Gran Turismo 3 is so huge that I might never complete every objective. Whether you like it or not, GT3 will require a lot of patience. If you are easily bored, then try the Arcade Mode and jump into a race with a buddy. If you are a hardcore gamer than play Simulation Mode and race your way to the top (and watch out for those Endurance Races!).

GT3 has all of the world's top manufacturers. It literally has hundreds of cars of all varieties, detailed from the engine to the brake lights. This game uses true to life racing stradegies. If you need help, the 45 page instruction booklet will not only help your motor skills in GT3, but in real life too! This game is highly recommended!

Graphics: 10/10
Gameplay: 10/10
Sound: 10/10
Control: 9/10
Originality: 8/10
Overall: 9.2/10

1-2 Players
Memory Card - Minimum 256k
Digital Control
Analog Control
Vibration Function
Pressure Sensitive

Vrrrrrm!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: September 29, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Gran Turismo 3 picks up right where GT2, its predecessor, left off. With improved car selection, more courses, and crisper graphics on the Play Station 2, it instantly became my favorite racing game. There is nothing better than being able to pick your vehicle of choice from any major automobile company. With choices from Hondas to BMWs your options are limitless. The fun doesn't stop here though. After you have chosen your vehicle and made a little cash from some races, you can even start modifying your car. You can buy basic performance parts like mufflers, and gradually work your way up to high powered turbochargers. No other racing game has ever been able to come close to this. It is up to you to squeeze every bit of horsepower you can out of your vehicle so you can at least try to hang with the fastest sports cars in the world. All of these modifying options do take time, so patience is certainly something to have when playing this game. This is just what comes along with the game that is known as the best racing simulator. There even is a car wash and wheel shop which really enables you to customize your ride. The game gets down to the exact specifications of each car as well. It lists the weight, ride height, performance specifications, etc. From graphics to game play, this game really has it all. It is so realistic you can almost smell the aroma of gasoline and burning rubber on the track.

The 'killer app' for the PS2 has arrived!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: July 24, 2001
Author: Amazon User

You've heard plenty of other people say it, but this is one outstanding game. Not only is the game chock full of eye candy, but it has an almost dizzying array of cars and modifications for the cars.

Perhaps the most amazing thing is how different the cars feel from one another. Powering around the Seattle circuit in a heavily upgraded 600 horsepower Mustang SVT Cobra is entirely a different experience from mincing your way through traffic in a Mazda Miatta.

Force feedback and sound are put to good use throughout the game to give you a feel for what you're driving over and how your tires are gripping the road. The subtle feedback really goes a long way to recreating the driving experience.

Finally, little touches throughout really set this game apart; as you kick in the retros breaking late into a hard corner you'll see your disc brakes glow yellow hot. Watching the race replays you'll see your suspension work overtime as you rocket over curbs and through gravel traps. You'll see headlights glinting off of wet road surfaces and cameras flash in the grand stands as you scream by.

Truly the most impressive racing game to date for any system. Don't miss this one!

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